I don’t think the players take coach Gautam Gambhir seriously, says Monty Panesar

Former England player Monty Panesar has made a big statement about India head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying that the team does not take him seriously. Gambhir’s coaching style has come under the spotlight after India’s recent poor performances in Test cricket. The Rohit Sharma-led team recently suffered a 0-3 home defeat against New Zealand, followed by a 1-3 series defeat against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Recently, Panesar analyzed India’s recent poor results and felt that Gambhir had too much workload. The former spinner also mentioned that Gambhir might not have been able to earn the respect of the team due to his poor Test record in Australia and England.

“I think so. I think it’s a good option. I think maybe the workload is too much for Gambhir. He just made the transition to coach. Sometimes it can be difficult for some of the senior players who will actually be thinking, ‘Well, “I was his teammate a few years ago, now he’s telling us how to play cricket. That transition can be difficult, and also his record (as a batsman) is not very good in Australia or England,” Panesar told the Times of India.

Furthermore, Panesar suggested that legendary Indian batsman VVS Laxman be appointed as India’s Test coach and Gambhir be given the responsibility of the limited overs side.

“He (Gambhir) has an average of 23 in Australia. He doesn’t have a good average in England either. He didn’t play the moving ball very well. I think the selectors will think: ‘Is Gambir taking this seriously as a coach, or should he? do it?’ Do we make him focus only on ODIs and T20Is, and maybe hire someone like VVS Laxman for example (as Test coach)?…Or bring him in as batting coach to help Gambhir. He is similar to Rahul. Dravid has been successful in all conditions,” he added.

Panesar also mentioned that the players would naturally listen to Laxman’s advice as he commands respect due to his excellent Test record, but the same is not true of Gambhir, who he feels is not taken seriously by the team.

“I think you need some kind of Indian legend, who has done very well in all conditions, to come in as a coach, because then naturally you deserve that respect. If Laxman tells you ‘you are not going to play the ball up when it is swinging’, you listen, right? But with Gambhir, I’m not sure if they really take it seriously or just say, ‘Okay, yeah, we’ll listen to it, but we’re going to play our natural game,'” Panesar concluded.

BCCI holds review meeting with Gambhir and Rohit

Gambhir played four Test matches in Australia and scored 181 runs in four matches at an average of 22.62. He also played five matches in England and scored 127 runs at an average of 12.70 with 0 half-centuries. Meanwhile, The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) recently held a review meeting with Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma. to review India’s recent performances.

The Board is reluctant to take any hasty decision but the future of Gambhir’s tenure as coach and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy could well be decided on the basis of India’s performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.